A/N 1: For those who wish to have a small summary before each chapter of the previous events, you can read it on my lj (link in the profile). I did this so people could either take the cut to the summary and then read the chapter or just read the chapter.

Disclaimer: Still mostly Tolkien's still only a few characters worth of mine.

Chapter Eighteen: Is Only A Small Degree…..

How poor are they who have not patience! What wound did ever heal but by degrees.

-William Shakespeare

Elrohir watched Morwen carefully as she made her way outside, ever insisting she could walk unaided. Elves, while able to go for long bouts without deep rest, able to endure bitter cold and blistering heat, and able to fight off horrendous physical wounds could not so easily fight off wounds to the heart, soul or the mind. Morwen had just endured a hearty mental bout with the Valar and however much she protested, her body was feeling the effect. Elrohir was at once both concerned and amused as he watched her walk as shakily as a new born foal.

"Morwen, I really must insist I offer you a guiding hand, if only to protect dear Ink Blot when his elven perch falls down."

She slowly turned to him, "Do you not have anything better to do with your time?"

He laughed, "No. I must confess the best part of my day is basking in your wondrous grace. I do not know how I ever survived without it."

"Oh, Elrohir, my heart is all a-flutter at the thought of you so suffering in your admiration of me."

Elrohir lowered his head, "Truly I do, you vile temptress, you."

Both were hard pressed to keep the smiles from their faces, their long time game of mockeries would never grow old for them.

Elrohir held out his arm to Morwen, smiled as she finally gave in and took hold of him. Elrohir did not remark on how much she leaned her weight on him.

"How are you, Elrohir, truly?" she asked.

"I fare much better than you, I promise. Why do you ask?"

"I worry about you," she said, "Elladan is slowly but surely making his advances known to Rian. It has been a long time since you have visited your friends in LothLorien, and I fear I have also been neglectful in my speaking with you. There is a slight sadness around you, Elrohir."

"Morwen, I assure you, that while my twin and you are both very busy, I have other friends besides those in the family. I know it may be a shocking thing to believe, but I am, indeed, able to make friends with my fellow elves on patrol."

"Imagine that, I never would have guessed. You? Charming enough to make friends? Not possible." She said.

"I know, I was amazed myself." Elrohir played long but then continued in a more serious tone, "I am well, Morwen. I am not lonely, and to be honest I find Elladan's advances towards Rian as my prime entertainment of the day. I will confess I do miss my mother and sister."

"They will be back with the spring, yes?" she asked.

Elrohir slowly nodded, "So they say. Often mother has delayed her returns to our home. I wish I knew why."

Coming to the gardens they sat outside, both remarking on how the smell in the air indicated snow was soon to come, both enjoying this peaceful time with a close friend.

Alas, their tranquility was soon broken.

"Who put a tent in here?" Glorfindel's bellow could be heard from the healing rooms, and then "ELLADAN! ELROHIR!"

Elrohir turned to Morwen, eyes wide. While grown, even Elrohir knew to be cautious of an enraged Glorfindel.

"What was that?" Tirnion asked as he came down the steps into the garden.

"Good, Tirnion," Elrohir said, "Amazing timing you have. You can stay here with Morwen while I go…far away."

"He will just be more angered if he has to chase you." Morwen said.

"It would be best to hold to your honor Elrohir and face your fate." Tirnion agreed.

"Or," Morwen said, "You can just mention my name. I am sure he will go running off in the other direction seeing as how he has not said a word to me since he last bellowed my own name."

Elrohir glanced at her, "Morwen, do you want to have another pity party out here? Alas, you do not have any pillows to almost hit me with."

"I am sure Tirnion would take care of that problem for me." She said.

Tirnion smiled, "Whatever the maiden bids."

"Elrohir!"

Hearing the sharp bark of Glorfindel, Elrohir sighed and made his way back inside.

Tirnion and Morwen watched him go, looks of sympathy on their faces.

"We were deceived, you and I." Tirnion said as soon as Elrohir was further into the house.

Morwen agreed, "And by our own minds, even, quite an accomplishment."

"Not so shocking." Tirnion said.

"There were two of us. At least, now we know." Morwen said.

"Yet we are still here, they are still there and little has been accomplished, except that we now know." He said.

"Yes," Morwen sighed, "Yes, we both have shown our hands to them and they, alas, still have the power."

Tirnion nodded, "As they always do. And what should we do? Well, we do nothing but wait."

"Wait, just wait, not move on?" Morwen asked.

"Wait." Tirnion said in a firm tone. "Our hearts are set, despite the doubts both of our own creation and others, our hearts are set. And honestly, who would we go to, each other?"

Morwen looked at him. "You are far too pale."

Tirnion looked at her. "And you are far too dark. Therefore, we wait, hearts set, until they are ready. Or until Glorfindel is ready, I do not know of Merileth and her choices. But I will be here. Waiting."

"Hearts set."

Tirnion sadly said, "That is the plan. To always be there, even if only as a friend. If that is all I can have….."

"…..then that must be enough." Morwen continued.

"We are very much alike, you and I." Tirnion said.

"Alas, there are two of us." Morwen agreed.

"And you both sound like a sad and depressing poem." Elladan's voice interrupted from above them as he looked down from the balcony. "Though, I suppose that is the way of true love, to be full of suffering. And waiting. Heart sets. Alone."

"Look, Tirnion, apparently the beast of burden is mocking us." Morwen said.

"Indeed," Tirnion smiled, "what an ass."

"Ah, the wit, it wounds me so." Elladan muttered as he rolled his eyes.

"You know, Morwen," Tirnion said, "I do not believe that is fitting behavior for a son of a great elven lord."

"I must agree with you, Tirnion. We should speak with Erestor about arranging etiquette lessons for our dear Elladan."

"Failing that, we can just inform Glorfindel of Elladan's current location."

"Why would that be a threat?" Elladan asked.

"He found a tent." Tirnion told him.

Morwen continued, "You know, the one you forgot to take down."

"And from the bellow, I believe he more stumbled into it rather than casually glanced at it." Tirnion said.

"Oh, right. And where is Elrohir?" Elladan asked, his voice slightly higher than normal.

"He went to face his fate." Morwen said.

"He has not come back out yet." Tirnion said.

"I hope Glorfindel didn't kill him, that would put a damper on the festival." Morwen said.

"Just slightly. So, Elladan, you were saying?" Tirnion asked.

"I, I think I hear father calling. Good day!" Elladan proclaimed.

Morwen and Tirnion watched Elladan scramble off.

"He is an honorable elf, to be sure, but whenever he angers Glorfindel he acts like he is a mere elfling." Morwen said.

Tirnion smiled again, "To Glorfindel he is a mere elfling."

Morwen looked at him, "Tirnion, please do not bring logic into this, the twins are older than I."

"Right, no logical arguments. Morwen, are you feeling well enough for a ride?"

"As long as I am not expected to go far. Why do you ask?"

"We have not yet gotten our…"

"Ah, yes, the gifts. We should do that before they close up for the holiday, or the snow starts to fall. Well, if we shall ride out, we best start the walk towards the stables now; perhaps I will reach them before next year."

Morwen lightly pushed Ink Blot out of her lap and made to stand up, grabbing onto the hand Tirnion extended.

He slyly smiled at her, "I could always carry you."

"Oh, imagine the gossip that would spread on the account of that action. While I may be in the slight bit tempted to let you do such a thing, I do not want to face Erestor's wrath at the uproar. Though, if you help me onto my horse, I shall be forever grateful."

"For the sake of all the nerves in this realm, I was merely going to place you on a horse and lead us there. It would be the more sensible thing to do."

"There you go again, logic and sensible things and kindness. Do you not realize you are to be young and irrational and selfish?" Morwen teased.

Tirnion smiled down at her, "I have resigned myself to being called 'different' and I carry that title with the utmost pride."

"As you should, Tirnion, as you should."

Elrohir was silently finishing the task Glorfindel had set for him: stable duty. No matter that the tent was inside the house and had been pitched under his father's approving and amused eyes. No, no, Glorfindel had argued, the tents were part of the patrol and therefore under his jurisdiction which meant the twins were taking their punishment and they were taking it now.

At least Elrohir was not alone; Elladan had literally collided with the Elda in a supposed escape attempt. Now Elladan was ankle deep in the least beautiful things about horses.

"He does this on purpose you know, he tells the stable hands to let it all pile up and then he finds a reason to punish us." Elladan grumbled.

"He is our highest commanding officer, Elladan." Elrohir pointed out.

"He is our highest commanding officer, Elladan." Elladan mocked.

"You are a fountain of wisdom, oh eldest son of Elrond." Elrohir said.

Elladan held out his shovel to his brother, "And you are a fountain of….Oh, hello, father, Glorfindel."

Elrohir turned, seeing his very amused father and a still annoyed Glorfindel, who was looking around the stables, marking their progress.

"Elrohir, it looks like you have done enough, you may leave. As for you, Elladan, more working and less mocking." Glorfindel said.

"Yes, sir." Elladan said.

Elrond looked between his sons, "Has Morwen returned from her ride with Tirnion?"

"What?" Glorfindel asked.

"What?" Elladan asked.

"Really, she went on a ride with him, how nice." Elrohir said.

"Elrond, you let her out riding with him in her condition, how could she even stay on a horse?" Glorfindel asked.

Elladan had similar concerns, "Really, father, she is far too weak to be out with anyone who has not had proper training in the healing arts or in the care of Morwen."

Elrohir laughed at them both and turning to his father said, "Would you listen to them? Assuming a second-in-command for King Thranduil does not have even the merest of training in the healing arts or the ability to care for one female."

"Oh, Elrohir," Elrond said, "You must forgive them for they both have a slight veneer of jealousy over their eyes. Really, both of you, if I did not feel Tirnion was able to take care of Morwen, I would not have allowed them to ride out."

"Elrond, I trust your judgment as always, but she is far too incapacitated to be able to control a horse in the event of a sudden emergency." Glorfindel said.

"Which is why, Glorfindel, Morwen was riding on a horse Tirnion was leading. And they picked one of the tamest horses of our stables. If you are so concerned, I give you leave to go fetch her from the market-place." Elrond said.

"Perhaps, I shall, if only to get her home soonest. I feel as if snow will start any moment." Glorfindel murmured.

"Yes, the taste of it is in the air." Elrohir agreed, "I would set out now. Let me go get Uilos ready."

Elladan watched Glorfindel ride out as if he had a most urgent mission. His father had gone back inside the house, claiming the need to rescue Erestor from King Thranduil and his Lady Laeriel.

Elladan looked at his brother, "Why are you not the least bit concerned about all the time Tirnion has spent within Morwen's presence."

"Because I know Tirnion is a pure heart. Furthermore, seeing new friendships always make me happy. He is a good elf, Elladan, and I know Morwen has already assured you he will never take your place in her heart. Do not begrudge her a close companion who can understand her situation far better than you. Plus, do you not have more important things to focus on, like a certain councilor by the name of Rian?"

Elrohir did not hold back his smile at his brother's blush.

"I…that is to say….I.." Elladan stammered on.

"Look at you, all flustered. I must confess, I am surprised out of all, you have chosen her."

"She is different, Elrohir, I can not explain it. I did not see it as a child, but now, it is as if I feel she is right."

"Because she is the one for you. I will not lie, I am jealous, for I fear I shall never meet such a being for me as long as I dwell on Arda."

"Elrohir, have you seen….."

"No, it was something Grandmother once said to me. Do not concern yourself with it, dear brother, for now is not the time for such thoughts. We have more important things to think about, such as, how will you manage not to step on Rian's toes at the Mid-Winter dance."

"That was not funny."

"I found it quite humorous. Now, elder brother, finish your task so we may go inside and rinse these lovely stable smells off."

Elladan gave his brother one last look and continued shoveling away.

"Where is she?" An icy voice demanded.

Tirnion looked up to see Glorfindel, quietly enraged and certainly not the mocking elf he had been on a ride with earlier in the day.

"Glorfindel, how nice to see you. If you are asking about Morwen, who I assure you is an adult and capable of taking care of herself, she has been waylaid inside the shop of that man who sells the expensive quills. His wife insisted on giving her something warm to drink and having her sit by the fire and who was I to defy the orders of such a formidable woman."

Tirnion studied Glorfindel, noting the anxious air in his being, "You should have seen her earlier in the day or you would not be so concerned. She is fine, Glorfindel, and while she is not pleased with how your treated her with the bellowing and all on the balcony, she does not hold a grudge against you. Though she is not a great supporter of your current avoidance strategy."

After receiving no reply from the Elda, Tirnion sighed and said, "Go, look through the window of the shop if you do not believe me, she is resting peacefully. I did not have the heart to wake her and came out her to purchase the things she wanted.

Glorfindel slowly made his way over to the window, staring inside. "I should get her back to the house, she would sleep more peacefully in a bed." He said.

"Would you like me to…" Tirnion trailed off at the determined look in Glorfindel's eyes.

"I have been watching after her since she was a mere child, Tirnion, I assure you I can do so now as well."

Tirnion watched as Glorfindel stormed inside the shop.

A few moments later, Glorfindel came out with a sleeping Morwen cradled to his chest, wrapped in his cloak. Uilos, as if sensing her elf's need, had come up slowly, slightly lowering herself in order to ease the mounting. Morwen slept through it all, warm and content in Glorfindel's arms.

"It warms the heart to see such a thing."

Tirnion turned to the man at the stall where he had been standing, "Yes, yes it does."

Tirnion handed the man the proper amount for the gift he held in his hands, something he prayed would bring a small bit of delight to Merileth.

Smiling sadly, Tirnion gathered his, and Morwen's, packages and made his way to his own horse. As he started to ride back to the Last Homely House he sang softly a song of hope as the snow started to fall.

A/N 2: To Renna: the reviews never get boring! They brighten up my day. To Vailnor's Twilight: I hope my message go to you, if it didn't, thank you for pointing out my error.

To everyone else: Just thanks for reading, reviewing, and keeping on with this story.